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NCT Number: NCT06340685

Triheptanoin for Children With Primary-Specific Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex (PDC) Deficiency

This is a medical research study to test a medication in patients with a disease called Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex (PDC) Deficiency. The medication is triheptanoin, which is currently FDA approved for the treatment of Long-Chain Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders. Previous research suggests that triheptanoin may also be effective in the treatment PDC Deficiency. This study will investigate the safety and efficacy (how well it works) of triheptanoin in patients with PDC Deficiency.

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Key information

About this study

Participation in the study will require the patient to participate in up to 10 visits over a two-year period. Five of those visits must be done at the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP). Other visits can take place at CHP or remotely. All of these visits will include blood draws.

Triheptanoin will be added to the patients' diet and administered at least 4 times per day. The target dose will be 1.2-3.9 g of triheptanoin per kg body weight with a max goal dose of about 4 g/kg per day.

The triheptanoin will be provided to the patients at no cost. All other costs will be billed to the patients' insurance.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 1 year to <18 years of age
  • Subjects with PDCD would need to have a metabolic physician following their clinical care needs prior to their enrollment in the study
  • Diagnosis of PDCD by molecular genetic confirmation of PDHA1, PDHB, DLAT, PDHX, or PDP1 mutation
  • Not pregnant or lactating
  • Parental permission and assent of minor and willingness to comply with study procedures
  • Not participating in any interventional treatment clinical trials
  • Not a recipient of gene therapy, organ transplant, or bone-marrow transplantation
  • If currently on any investigational drugs or therapies, must complete a 30-day washout period prior to Intake & Dosing (Day 1).
  • Negative pregnancy test for all female patients of childbearing age. Individuals of childbearing potential must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception, and males must agree not to father a child or donate sperm. True abstinence for the duration of the study will also be accepted.
  • Subjects are following some form or type of ketogenic diet at the time of the screening visit.

Exclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD)
  • Use of alcohol or drugs of abuse
  • Evidence of liver disease as defined by elevations of AST or ALT >2x ULN in the past 6 months
  • Pregnant, breastfeeding, or lactating females
  • On any investigational product research study (and not completed the required 30-day washout period prior to Intake & Dosing) or recipient of gene therapy or organ or bone-marrow transplantation

Treatment and study plan

Triheptanoin

Drug

Open-label design with doses of triheptanoin up to 4.0 gm/kg triheptanoin

Other names: Dojolvi

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of participants who report side-effects related to gastrointestinal (GI) distress

    Time frame: 24 months

  2. Normalization of biochemical markers of disease (lactate)

    Time frame: 24 months

    Change in lactate levels, comparing results from before and after triheptanoin is initiated - this will be measured by the number of participants who experience any change; measured in mmol/L

  3. Normalization of biochemical markers of disease (pyruvate)

    Time frame: 24 months

    Change in pyruvate levels, comparing results from before and after triheptanoin is initiated - this will be measured by the number of participants who experience any change; measured in mg/dl

  4. Normalization of biochemical markers of disease (β-hydroxybutyrate level)

    Time frame: 24 months

    Change in β-hydroxybutyrate levels, comparing results from before and after triheptanoin is initiated - this will be measured by the number of participants who experience any change; measured in mmol/L

  5. Normalization of biochemical markers of disease (Alanine/Leucine ratio)

    Time frame: 24 months

    Change in Alanine/Leucine ratios, comparing results from before and after triheptanoin is initiated - this will be measured by the number of participants who experience any change; measured in μmol/L

  6. Normalization of biochemical markers of disease (Alanine/Lysine ratio)

    Time frame: 24 months

    Change in Alanine/Lysine ratios, comparing results from before and after triheptanoin is initiated - this will be measured by the number of participants who experience any change; measured in μmol/L

  7. Normalization of biochemical markers of disease (Alanine/Proline ratio)

    Time frame: 24 months

    Change in Alanine/Proline ratios, comparing results from before and after triheptanoin is initiated - this will be measured by the number of participants who experience any change; measured in μmol/L

  8. More efficacious seizure control

    Time frame: 24 months

    Measured by a reduction or alteration of home antiepileptics use, from before and after triheptanoin is initiated

  9. More efficacious metabolic control

    Time frame: 24 months

    Measured by a reduction in episodes of metabolic decompensation, from before and after triheptanoin is initiated

  10. More efficacious disease control

    Time frame: 24 months

    Measured by a reduction in the frequency of disease related hospitalizations, from before and after triheptanoin is initiated

Secondary outcomes

  1. Improved quality of life

    Time frame: 24 months

    Measured by a change in scores on the PedsQL, from before and after trihepatnoin is initiated

  2. Improved long-term maintenance and tolerance of diet

    Time frame: 24 months

    Measured by parental report of diet maintenance and tolerance, from before and after triheptanoin is initiated

  3. Improved quality of life

    Time frame: 24 months

    Measured by a change in scores on the MetabQoL, from before and after trihepatnoin is initiated

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Angela Riemenschneider

CONTACT

[email protected]

412-692-5232

Jirair Bedoyan, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Jirair Krikor Bedoyan

Other

Collaborators

  • Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc

Registry information

Official study title

An Open Label, Exploratory, Proof-of Concept Study of Triheptanoin as Treatment for Patients With Primary-Specific Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex (PDC) Deficiency

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2029
First posted
Apr 1, 2024
Registry last updated
Feb 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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